Jordan Pickett plots path from Belleville East to NCAA and out of his brother’s shadow

Belleville East’s Jordan Pickett has set his own journey toward playing Division I college basketball by carving out his own path as a Lancer.

Pickett has been a four-year starter for Belleville East and, as a junior, led the Lancers by averaging 19.7 points, 3.2 assists and 2 steals per game.

He received Division I offers from Radford University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in June and, on Nov. 14, signed his national letter of intent to play with SIUE.

This year, the Lancers are 15-2 and 4-1 in the Southwestern Conference with Pickett again leading the way at 18.8 points per game. Most recently, Pickett posted 24 points Friday in a 66-57 league victory against cross-town rival Belleville West before collecting 20 points in a 65-59 victory Saturday against Hillcrest at the 31st annual Highland Optimist Scott Credit Union Shootout

All in all, Pickett’s found his way despite the double-edged sword of being the younger brother of a former Lancers superstar.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of role changes. Over time, my role just got bigger and I received more trust from coach (Jeff) Creek,” said Jordan, whose Lancers face East St. Louis at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the former Lindenwood and Belleville West campus in a big league showdown. “I’ve been striving to be one of the guys whose name is going to be forever known at Belleville East like my brother.”

Javon Pickett, Jordan’s older brother, was a heavily-recruited talent at Belleville East High School during his time there. A three-year starter for the Lancers, he averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a senior.

He initially committed to the University of Illinois before eventually electing to join other metro-east recruits Mark Smith of Edwardsville and Jeremiah Tilmon of East St. Louis at Missouri.

He’s was one of Mizzou’s top scorers over four years before deciding to use his extra year of eligibility to attend Saint Louis University.

Javon Pickett said the environment and familiarity with other players played a part in him coming back close to home to play for the Billikens, but family was also an important factor.

“I just really wanted to be closer to my family. I wanted to see him (Jordan) play for his senior year,” Javon said. “That played a big key in my situation coming back home. I’ve been making it to a lot of these games and have been happy with what I’m seeing.”

He said he said he expects his brother to excel on the collegiate level, too.

“I think he’s going to fit right in at SIUE based on how they play. As long as he continues to grow mentally and physically, the sky is the limit,” Javon said.

The pressure to be a premier athlete locally like his older brother was something Jordan embraced during Javon Pickett’s basketball journey.

“It’s definitely been pressure, but when you’ve been learning something like this for so long, you can prepare for it,” Jordan Pickett said. “I like the pressure at this point and people expect a lot so I know I have to keep going.”

The younger Pickett says he was fortunate to have a brother with experience playing in a tough Southwestern Conference environment. He says Javon prepared him well for that once he began attending Belleville East.

“Javon would tell me ‘you’ve got to give it your all every game and try to be a leader of everything,’” Jordan said. “It’s not always about the scoring — leadership comes first and more important then just having to win ball games.”

While heading into his junior year, Jordan said he felt he emerged from his brother’s shadow after performing well against top national talent and top coaches in the EYBL with Brad Beal Elite during the summer.

On the collegiate level, Pickett has big goals once he hits the college campus next fall and wants to make an impact on the SIUE program.

“I really want to win. Not too many people can say they’ve been to March Madness, so I want to make it to the tournament while I’m there and win the conference championship,” Jordan said.

Thoughts from Belleville East coach

Creek has known Jordan Pickett since he was his big brother’s tag-along at practices and games. He’s watched him grow as a basketball player since his freshman year in high school.

“I’ve known Jordan since he was in third or fourth grade and he started coming in as a freshman and he’s excelled every year for us,” Creek said. “He’s a great kid, funny kid and all the kids love hanging out with him.”

Creek thinks Javon’s experience as a former Lancer has helped his younger brother prepare for his own playing career and to work his way out of his brother’s shadow as an athlete.

“Jordan had the luxury of knowing what to expect from seeing Javon play and knew what the Southwestern Conference was all about,” Creek said. “He loves that Javon’s his brother, but he doesn’t always want to be in Javon’s shadow. So Jordan has always worked hard to set his own path and I think he’s done a great job.”

Lancers coach notes Jordan’s leadership

The leadership role Jordan has demonstrated has been by leading by example with his actions during the last two years.

“He leads by the work that he puts in during practice and I think he’s really embraced that well — especially this year,” Creek said.

SIUE coach Brian Barone said Pickett brings a lot of qualities he looks for in his program.

“It’s not always easy to be a local talent playing for your local team and it takes a special player. Jordan encompasses a lot of that,” Barone said. “In my time getting to know Jordan through his recruitment, he’s very appreciative of being recruited. That really stood out.”

More from Barone

Barone believes Jordan having his older brother’s college basketball experience to look at is a unique tool to possess going forward.

“I think that it’s good because his parents have seen what it is like to parent a college athlete. Jordan’s parents are such a strong support system, they’re great people and that’s something that would be utilized as transitions from high school to college basketball,” Barone said. “It’s a unique and special situation because he has seen his older brother go through things and it adds a little experience without having the experience yet.”

The SIUE coaching staff views Jordan’s size along with his offensive and defensive versatility as conducive to the style of their play said Barone.